Absorbent article

ABSTRACT

An absorbent article of pants shape including an elastic waist portion, an absorbent element ( 5 ), and a liquid-impermeable outer layer ( 3 ) which is intended to enclose the absorbent element on at least that side thereof which faces away from the wearer during use of the article. Elastic members are arranged along the edges of a second piece, along at least the crotch portion for the forming of leg elastics.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/342,760, filed in the United States on Dec. 28, 2001,the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to an absorbent article ofpants-like shape, such as incontinence pants, pants diapers or sanitarytowel pants, comprising an elastic waist portion, an absorbent element,which has a length and a width and is intended to at least cover thegenitals of the wearer during use of the article. The invention alsorelates to a method of manufacturing such absorbent articles ofpants-like shape.

[0004] 2. Background Art

[0005] Absorbent disposable products for taking up urine, feces ormenstrual blood have developed greatly since they came into more generaluse during the 1960s and 1970s. As they are disposable products, it isnecessary that they can be manufactured and sold at a very low price. Atthe same time, it is important that the products function well andreliably. Good fit and comfort are also important characteristics. Thefirst disposable diapers were made of two-part products, consisting ofan outer pant made of plastic, intended to be re-used, and a rectangularabsorbent insert for disposable use. The absorbent material in theseinserts initially consisted of cellulose tissue. Later, betterabsorption materials made of what is known as fluff pulp made ofcellulose were developed. The fit and comfort of these early diaperswere poor. The products were unwieldy and uncomfortable for the wearer.Towards the end of the 1970s, the first complete disposable diapersarrived, that is to say diapers in which the absorption bodies wereintegrated with a liquid-impermeable outer layer. The absorptionmaterials have developed and improved, which has resulted in thepossibility of the absorption bodies being adapted better to the anatomyof the wearer. Hourglass-shaped absorption bodies with a narrower crotchportion between the two end portions are now predominant. The trend hasalso been towards increasingly thin products, which has been madepossible by the inclusion of what are known as superabsorbent materialsin the absorption body. There are many reasons why thinner and evensmaller absorption bodies are desirable. A thinner, smaller absorptionbody is more comfortable and more discreet, which is especiallyimportant for adult incontinent wearers. A reduction in volume is alsovery important financially because the product then requires lessstorage space and is easier to transport and takes up less shelf spacein shops. This is important for the financial management of the shops,and if a manufacturer can produce products requiring less space in theshops than the products of the competitors, this affords a notinconsiderable competitive advantage. Moreover, there is increasedpressure from authorities, in particular as far as disposable articlesare concerned, to use as little material as possible for the purpose ofreducing the burden on the environment.

[0006] The smaller the absorption bodies become, the more important itbecomes that the absorption bodies come to lie in the correct placedirectly in front of the genitals of the wearer and remain in placeduring use even when the wearer is very active and moves a great deal.The demands of consumers for discretion, comfort and reliablefunctioning are also increasingly exacting. Requirements for theabsorption body to come to lie correctly when put on and then beretained in the correct place have therefore increased the need for goodfixing of the article on the body and the need for very goodadaptability to the body when the wearer moves, at the same time asrequirements have increased for the article always to come to lie in thecorrect place when the article is put on the wearer. This has led to thedevelopment of what are known as pants diapers, which have elasticportions for improved fit and comfort and increased flexibility duringmovements of the wearer compared with conventional absorbent articles.

[0007] An early patent publication relating to pants diapers of thedisposable type is GB 2 112 267-A. However, this publication from 1983discloses primitive pants diapers which did not become a commercialproduct. Not until the 1990s did absorbent articles of pants-like shapeand construction become a major commercial product. Pants-like articlesnow exist in the form of diapers for infants and diapers for adults andto some extent sanitary towel pants for absorption of menstrual fluid.Previously commercially available pants diapers have been designed inprinciple like conventional diapers with a front portion and a rearportion and also an intermediate crotch portion, the front and rearportions being interconnected by a side seam between each leg openingand the waist opening of the pants. The pants diapers have been producedby plane diaper-like pieces being produced in a continuous web, theindividual pants diapers being formed by diaper-like blanks being foldeddouble and provided with said side seams to form pants diapers. Theseside seams project laterally from the finished product and areundesirable because they project and interfere with the fit of garmentsworn over the top. On account of their shape, they are visible throughgarments worn on top of the pants diapers and fitting closely around thebody. They can also snag in clothing and even cause tears in nylontights. Such projecting side seams can also chafe and give rise topressure sores on wearers who spend a lot of time lying on their side.

[0008] WO 00/61049 has proposed improved pants diapers, in which theprojecting sides seams have been eliminated. In this construction, theside seams have been eliminated by virtue of elastic side portionsextending continuously in one piece from the front portion of the pantsdiapers to their rear portion on both sides of the pants diapers.However, the pants diapers according to WO 00/61049 have a number ofdisadvantages. The pants diapers according to said publication have whatis referred to as a chassis, which extends over the entire pants diapersand forms the front portion, the crotch portion and the rear portion andis most reminiscent of a conventional diaper, and also said elastic sidepanels which each overlap the chassis at both the front and the rear onthe pants diapers. These overlapping portions do not serve any actualpurpose on the finished product and are in fact undesirable because alot of material is wasted, that is to say they are used for no otherpurpose than joining together. The overlapping, joined-together portionsare less of a nuisance and less uncomfortable for the wearer than theprojecting side seams on previously known pants diapers. Owing to theirunfavorable positioning, particularly at the rear, the overlappingportions can still give rise to a risk of chafing and back sores onwearers who spend a lot of time lying on their back. Anotherdisadvantage of the pants diapers according to WO 00/61049 is that saidchassis is relatively large and, as this portion is relatively rigid atleast in comparison with the elastic side portions of the pants diapers,the pants diapers as a whole are not as adaptable to the body of thewearer but there is a risk that the pants diapers will be displaced fromtheir optimum position in relation to the body when a wearer lies in bedand moves. In particular the rigid rear portion of the pants diapers canbe displaced and pull both the crotch portion and the front portion fromtheir optimum positions directly in front of the genitals of the wearerbecause the front and rear portion are essentially rigidly joinedtogether in one piece with the crotch portion.

[0009] This in combination with all the above-mentioned problemsassociated with absorbent articles of pants-like shape has resulted in agreat need to find a pants-like article which functions well in allrespects and which, in addition, it is possible to manufacturerationally.

SUMMARY

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, anabsorbent article of pants shape comprises an elastic waist portion, anabsorbent element, which has a length and a width and is adapted to atleast cover the genitals of a wearer when the article is worn, and aliquid-impermeable outer layer which is adapted to enclose the absorbentelement on at least a side thereof which faces away from the wearer whenthe article is worn, the elastic waist portion is made from an elasticfirst piece which is elongate in an extended state and is adapted topartly surround the trunk of the wearer when the article is worn and toform a rear portion and side portions of the absorbent article, a secondpiece forms a front portion and a crotch portion of the absorbentarticle, said second piece is elongate with two opposite end edges andtwo opposite longitudinal edges, the width of the second piece is, atleast in the crotch portion, smaller than a length of the first piece,the second piece is arranged with its longitudinal direction at rightangles in relation to a longitudinal direction of the first piece and isconnected by a first end portion of the second piece to one longitudinaledge portion of the first piece centrally thereon, one end portion ofthe first piece is connected to a first longitudinal edge of the secondpiece, and another end portion of the first piece is connected in acorresponding manner to a second longitudinal edge of the second piece,the absorbent element is in its entirety arranged on the second piece,and elastic members are arranged along the longitudinal edges of thesecond piece along at least the crotch portion for forming leg elasticsthat are adapted to lie in sealing contact with legs of the wearer.

[0011] According to another embodiment, an absorbent article comprisesan elastically stretchable first piece having first and secondlongitudinal edges and first and second ends, wherein the first andsecond ends are shorter than the first and second longitudinal edges; asecond piece having first and second longitudinal edges and first andsecond ends, wherein the first and second ends are shorter than thefirst and second longitudinal edges; the second piece includes anabsorbent element; the first end of the second piece is secured to amiddle portion of the second longitudinal edge of the first piece sothat the first piece extends substantially perpendicular to the secondpiece; the first end of the first piece is secured to the firstlongitudinal edge of the second piece and the second end of the firstpiece is secured to the second longitudinal edge of the second piece;and elastic members are arranged along at least a portion of the firstlongitudinal edge and along at least a portion of the secondlongitudinal edge of the second piece adjacent the absorbent element tocontract said portions of the second piece.

[0012] By virtue of the fact that the entire rear portion of a preferredembodiment is elastic and, together with the elastic side portions,forms a single continuous elastic unity, the pants as a whole are moreadaptable to body movements. Local irregularities are taken up andsmoothed out by the continuous elastic piece and are not transferred tothe more rigid parts of the front portion and crotch portion locateddirectly in front of the genitals of the wearer. Compared withconventional diapers and previously known absorbent articles ofpants-like shape, the embodiments of the present invention affordsuperior fit and comfort. Most of the pants-like garment is completelysmooth. The seams required are arranged at the transition between thefront portion and the first piece and at the transition between thefirst and the second piece in the crotch portion. These seams come tolie in places which are not subjected to any significant pressure duringuse of the article, and there is less risk of chafing and pressure sorescaused by seams on the pants-like article. Due to the arranging of legelastics, the article obtains a good fit and sealing around the legs ofthe wearer.

[0013] The embodiment is designed in only two part pieces, where theabsorbent element is in its entirety located on the second part piece,which affords greater freedom of choice with regard to manufacturingmethod compared with previously known articles of pants-like shape.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the length of the second piece isgreater than the width of the first piece, and a projecting portion ofthe second piece formed by the length difference is in its entiretylocated below that side edge of the first piece which is the lower oneduring use of the article, and there forms the crotch portion. Accordingto a modified embodiment, the projecting portion has a smaller widththan the remainder of the second piece.

[0015] According to another embodiment, the absorbent element extends inits longitudinal direction over the entire crotch portion and a littleway up over the front portion in the direction of that side edge of thefirst piece which is the upper one during use of the article.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the absorbent element isarranged so as to extend with its lower end portion only a little wayover the crotch portion and over less than half the extent of saidprojecting portion. According to another embodiment, the absorbentelement tapers in the direction of the crotch portion.

[0017] According to an embodiment in which the absorbent element extendsover the crotch portion, the absorbent element forms a concave shapewith its side edge portions in the crotch area.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the connected side edge portions andend portions of said first and second pieces are, before connection,arranged in an overlapping manner, with the inside of an overlappingportion being arranged against the outside of an overlapped portion.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the second piece includes aliquid-permeable inner layer and said liquid-impermeable outer layer,and the absorbent element is arranged between said inner and outerlayers, the inner and outer layers extending in the lateral directionand longitudinal direction outside the absorbent element and beinginterconnected there.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the liquid-impermeable layer onlycovers the absorbent element. According to one embodiment, the rest ofthe second piece is breathable and vapor-permeable.

[0021] According to a modified embodiment, the liquid-impermeable outerlayer is breathable and vapor-permeable, and the rest of the article,over its entire area, is breathable and vapor-permeable.

[0022] According to a further embodiment, the first piece isrectangular, which simplifies the manufacturing.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the second piece has a concaveportion between the first piece and up to said side edge portions of thesecond piece, wherein the concave portion forms cut-outs for the legs ofthe wearer. According to one embodiment, the elastic members extend atleast along the edges of the concave portion.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the second piece is, at leastalong a part of its length, narrowing towards the first piece, whereinthe narrowing portion forms cut-outs for the legs of the wearer.According to one embodiment, the elastic members are arranged along theedges of said narrowing portion for the forming of leg elastics.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the second piece is essentiallyinelastic. The term inelastic here denotes that the front section, undernormally occurring stresses, does not stretch.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the elastic members extend from anarea in the rear portion where the elastic first piece and the secondpiece overlap each other and further along the crotch portion along theedges of the second piece in a direction towards the front portion,whereby the elastic members are effectively connected with the elasticfirst piece. In such a design, the leg elastic is connected with thewaist elastic in the first piece, which gives the pants-like article agood fit.

[0027] According to a further embodiment, the absorbent elementcomprises superabsorbent material and is continuously narrowing in adirection towards the rear portion of the article, and the concentrationof superabsorbent material increases in the same direction.

[0028] A method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to oneembodiment of the invention comprises providing an elasticallystretchable first piece having first and second longitudinal edges andfirst and second ends, wherein the first and second ends are shorterthan the first and second longitudinal edges; securing a first end of asecond piece of material to a middle portion of the second longitudinaledge of the first piece so that the first piece extends substantiallyperpendicular to the second piece, wherein the second piece has firstand second longitudinal edges that are substantially perpendicular tothe first end and the first end is shorter than the first and secondlongitudinal edges, and wherein the second piece includes an absorbentelement; securing the first end of the first piece to the firstlongitudinal edge of the second piece and securing the second end of thefirst piece to the second longitudinal edge of the second piece; andproviding elastic members along at least a portion of the firstlongitudinal edge and along at least a portion of the secondlongitudinal edge of the second piece adjacent the absorbent element tocontract said portions of the second piece.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the absorbent element is in itsentirety arranged on the second piece forming part of the article beforesaid piece is connected to said first piece.

[0030] According to another embodiment, a method relates tomanufacturing an absorbent article of pants shape, the absorbent articlecomprising an elastic waist portion, an absorbent element, which has alength and a width and which covers genitals of a wearer when thearticle is worn, and a liquid-impermeable outer layer which encloses theabsorbent element on at least a side thereof which faces away from thewearer of the article. The method comprises forming said elastic waistportion from an elastic first piece which is elongate in an extendedstate and partly surrounds the trunk of the wearer and forms a rearportion and side portions of the pants article when the article is worn,forming a front portion of the article and a crotch portion from asecond piece, said second piece is elongate with two opposite end edgesand two opposite longitudinal edges, a width of the second piece is, atleast in the crotch portion, smaller than a length of the first piece,the second piece is arranged with its longitudinal direction at rightangles in relation to the longitudinal direction of the first piece,connecting a first end portion of the second piece to one longitudinaledge portion of the first piece, centrally thereon, connecting one endportion of the first piece to a first longitudinal edge portion of thesecond piece, and connecting another end portion of the first piece in acorresponding manner to a second longitudinal edge portion of the secondpiece, and elastic members are arranged in the crotch portion on eachside of the absorbent element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] The invention will be described in greater detail below withreference to illustrative embodiments shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0032]FIG. 1 shows schematically a phase of the construction of anabsorbent article according to a first embodiment.

[0033]FIG. 2 shows schematically in plane form an assembled articleaccording to the first embodiment.

[0034]FIG. 3 shows the article according to FIG. 2 in perspective.

[0035]FIG. 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1.

[0036]FIG. 5 shows schematically a phase of the construction of anabsorbent article according to a second embodiment.

[0037]FIG. 6 shows in plane form an assembled article according to thesecond embodiment.

[0038]FIG. 7 shows in plane form an assembled article according to athird embodiment.

[0039]FIG. 8 shows in plane view an assembled article according to afourth embodiment of the invention.

[0040]FIG. 9 shows schematically the distribution of superabsorbentmaterial in one embodiment of an absorbent element belonging to thearticle.

[0041]FIG. 10 shows a section along the line X-X in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the article in the embodimentaccording to FIG. 1 comprises a first piece 1. This piece is elasticallystretchable and is shown in FIG. 1 in a plane and even extended state,in which the elastic piece 1 is essentially rectangular. The elasticfirst piece 1 can be made from conventional materials well-known to theperson skilled in the art, such as woven elastic materials, elasticnon-wovens, elastic laminates or elastic films. Another alternative is amaterial with prestressed elastic threads arranged on a supportingmaterial, for example non-woven. Thus, the elastic piece is stretchablefor a wearer when the article is put on, and it fits closely withsuitable tightness around the wearer during use of the article. Thetightness is of course regulated by means of size and elasticstretchability.

[0043] The article includes a second piece 102 which, as can be seenfrom FIGS. 1 and 4, consists of an outer layer 3, an inner layer 4 andan absorbent element 105 arranged between these. In the embodiment inplane form shown in FIG. 1, this element is essentially triangular. Thematerial selected for the absorption element can be chosen from amongmaterials or material combinations well-known to the person skilled inthe art. For example, the absorbent element can consist of cellulosefluff pulp with superabsorbent materials in powder or fiber form addedin. The absorbent element can also consist of a foam material with orwithout superabsorbent material.

[0044] The outer layer 3 may suitably be liquid-impermeable andbreathable. The breathable and liquid-impermeable layer 3 may have aso-called MTVR-value in the order of magnitude of 200-10000 g/m²/24h.The term MTVR stands for “Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate”, i.e., theamount of vapor which can pass per unit area during a certain period oftime. Said breathable portion suitably has an MTVR-value in the order ofmagnitude of 500-5000 g/m²/24h, and most preferably in the order ofmagnitude of 1000-3000 g/m²/24h.

[0045] Measurement of breathability has been performed with the methodASTM E96 and the measurement equipment Lyssy has been used.

[0046] A problem with absorbent articles of pants-like shape is namelythat conventional articles of this kind tightly enclose the area aroundthe genitals of the wearer, whereby this area, when body fluids areexcreted, becomes locally saturated with moisture and vapor, which hasan adverse effect on the skin of the wearer. In some cases disturbingskin irritation can occur. Furthermore, also minor chafing of thearticle against the skin of the wearer, in combination with a moistenvironment and during lengthy usage of the article, can give rise tosores on older people with flesh that heals poorly.

[0047] It is not required that the elastic first piece isliquid-impermeable. The elastic first piece 1 should have goodbreathability

[0048] Breathable and vapor-permeable but liquid-impermeable materialsfor use in absorbent articles, such as diapers, incontinence products orsanitary towels, are previously known. Breathable materials can consistof perforated plastic films, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,737, orof micro-porous plastic films, as described in, for example,EP-A-0238200. Another example of breathable materials are so-callednon-woven materials which are air-permeable and vapor-permeable andwhich, if required, have been treated with means to improve theliquid-impermeability, as is described in EP-A-0196654. In absorbentarticles of pants-like shape, with a fit which tightly encloses aroundthe wearer, the need for air-permeability and vapor-permeability isbeneficial.

[0049] The liquid-impermeable and breathable layer 3 can, for example,consist of a perforated polyethylene film, where the size of the holeshas been chosen so that air and vapor may pass, but not liquid drops. Ifan absorbent article with a more textile-like appearance is desired, aliquid-impermeable film in combination with an outer fiber layer issuitable.

[0050] The inner layer 4 can be made from a liquid-permeable non-woven.

[0051] The second piece 102 is elongate and is arranged with itslongitudinal direction at right angles in relation to the longitudinaldirection of the first piece 1. The second piece 102 is connected by oneend portion 106 to one longitudinal edge portion 7 of the first piece 1,centrally thereon. The connection can be made by means of, for example,adhesive, thermal bonding or ultrasonic bonding. Elastic members 123,124are arranged along the edge portions of the second piece, which elasticmembers, in the shown embodiment, are made from elastic bands, extendingfrom the first piece 1, over the crotch portion and over the entireextent of the absorbent element 105. During use of the article, theelastic members are intended to serve as leg elastics and to lie insealing contact with the legs of the wearer along the crotch portion ofthe wearer, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The elastic members 123,124may be arranged in prestressed condition on the second piece 102.Alternatively, the elastic members may be made of a material which isarranged in an unstressed, untensioned condition, and which shrinks andbecomes elastic only when heated. Such elastic members are well known tothe person skilled in the art and are for this reason not furtherdescribed. Elastic members which become effective only on thermaltreatment are suitably subjected to required thermal treatment only whenthe absorbent articles are arranged in packages, whereby processing andpackaging are simplified compared to elastic members which are arrangedon the second piece 102 in prestressed condition.

[0052] In FIG. 1, the arrows A and B illustrate how the first and secondpieces are folded to form the absorbent article of pants-like shapeshown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The elastic piece 1 is folded in according tothe arrows A shown to form the rear portion 8 and side portions 9, 10 ofthe article, while the second piece is folded upwards according to thearrows B to form the front portion 11 and crotch portion 12 of thearticle.

[0053] As can be seen most clearly from FIG. 3, one end portion 13 ofthe first piece is arranged so as to be overlapped a little by a firstside edge portion 14 of the second piece, and the other end portion 15of the first piece is in a corresponding manner arranged so as to beoverlapped a little by a second side edge portion 16 of the secondpiece. These overlapping portions are interconnected by means of, forexample, adhesive, thermal bonding or ultrasonic bonding. Alternativelythe front portion and the crotch portion can be arranged detachablyalong said overlapping portions 13, 14 and 15, 16. Such a detachableconnection can be made by means of, for example, hook means (not shown),as a result of which the pants-like article can be opened andsubsequently reclosed with the same fit and tightness.

[0054] In FIG. 4, the thickness of the second piece has been exaggeratedfor the sake of clarity. The figure shows an outer layer 3 consisting ofa laminate of a plastic film 17 and a non-woven layer 18 arrangedoutside. The inner layer 4 can consist of a liquid-permeable non-wovenof a type well-known to the person skilled in the art.

[0055] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, those partscorresponding to the same parts in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1-4have been provided with the same reference numbers except increased by100. The only difference between the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and6 and the embodiment described above is the shape and extent of theabsorbent element 105, and the extent of the elastic members 123,124. Inthis second embodiment, the absorbent element 105 is hourglass-shaped inplane form, as can be seen most clearly from FIG. 5, the narrowerportion being intended to be arranged in the crotch of the wearer duringuse of the article. The upper end edge 119 of the absorbent element 105is located directly adjacent to the lower edge portion 107 of the firstelastic piece, which means that the absorbent element according to thissecond embodiment extends over the entire crotch area and a little wayup over the front portion 111, as can be seen from FIG. 6. The elasticmembers 123,124 are arcuately arranged along the side edges of theabsorbent element 105 and extend, as is evident from FIG. 5, from theupper elastic first piece 101 and down over the crotch portion of thearticle. As is evident from FIG. 5, the end portions of the elasticmembers 123,124 bridge that end portion 106 of the second piece whichoverlaps the first elastic piece 101. Thus, the elastic members areoperatively connected, in the rear portion 108 of the article, with thefirst elastic piece 101. The opposite end of each elastic member 123,124does not extend all the way to the side edges of the second piece 102,but are arranged so that the elastic members in the state of use of thearticle, which is shown in FIG. 6, do not reach all the way to the sideportions 109,110 of the first elastic piece. The relationship is thesame in the embodiments according to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0056] Preferably, the elastic piece 101 and the elastic members have anelastic characteristic which allows an extension of up to the order ofmagnitude of twice the length with constant extension force. Anabsorbent article of a certain size can thereby be used on wearers ofdifferent sizes without the pressure from the elastic being varied,which in its turn leads to a very limited assortment of different sizesof the absorbent article being required in order to cover the need ofsizes for wearers of different sizes.

[0057] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second piece 102has been shaped rectangular. The second piece 102 may, of course, beprovided with leg cut-outs which follow the curved elastic members andthe curved edge portions of the hourglass-shaped absorbent element 205.

[0058]FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment which is slightly modified inrelation to the first embodiment. The difference is that the elasticmembers 223,224 have another extent and that a part piece 221 of thesecond piece is made narrower than the remainder of the second piece, inwhich way a pants-like article with a narrower crotch portion isobtained, as can be seen from FIG. 7. In this embodiment the elasticmembers 223,224 extend to the edge sides of the second piece and intoeach joint between the pieces, as can be seen from FIG. 7.

[0059] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the details corresponding tosimilar details in the other embodiments have been provided with thesame reference numbers, except increased by 300. The second piece 302has a concave portion 322 which extends from the first piece 301 towardsthe side edge portions 314,316. These are, as in the above describedembodiments, intended to be connected with the end portions 313 and 315on the first piece 301.

[0060] The first piece 301 is formed of an elastic material and isintended during use of the article to achieve an elastic tighteningaround the waist of the wearer, which tightening keeps the article inplace and gives it a good fit. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, theelastic members 323,324 are arranged along both sides of the concaveportion 322 for the forming of leg elastic, which during use of thearticle is intended to be in sealing contact with the legs of thewearer. In the shown embodiment, the elastic members 323,324 extend fromthe elastic first piece 301 to the side edge portions 314,316. Thecompleted, assembled, pants-like article will thereby be elasticallytight-fitting around both of the legs of the wearer. In this manner agood fit is obtained. If the elastic piece 301 and the elastic members323,324 are formed so that they are elastically stretchable a longerdistance, without the tension in the elastic piece 301 and in theelastic members 323,324 being increased to any considerable extent, thearticle can, as described above, without any annoying chafing, be usedby wearers of different sizes. In such a design, the number of requisitesizes can be kept down, which leads to savings and rationalmanufacturing compared to if there is a need for a larger assortment ofsizes.

[0061]FIG. 9 schematically shows the absorbent element 5, 105, 205, 305usable in the embodiments 5, 105, 205, 305 of FIGS. 1-4 and 7-8. Inorder to avoid giving rise to annoying chafing in the crotch of thewearer, the absorbent element has been designed as narrowing in thatdirection which during use of the article is directed rearwards. Acomplication with this narrowing design is that the absorbent element isnarrowest in that portion which during use of the article is situatedsubstantially in front of the genitals of the wearer, in which portionthe demand for absorption capacity is greatest. To avoid the risk ofleakage in the narrower portion of the absorbent element to the mostpracticable degree, the superabsorbent material, according to a suitableembodiment where the superabsorbent material is part of the absorbentelement in the form of particles or fibers, has been arranged with anincreasing concentration in said narrowing direction. This has beenillustrated in FIG. 9 with the number of shown dots in correspondencewith a gradient of the number of superabsorbent particles per unitvolume of the absorbent element 5, 105, 205, 305 in said direction.

[0062] In FIG. 4 an embodiment is shown where the liquid-impermeable butbreathable outer layer 3 consists of a layer of the second piece.According to one embodiment, the liquid-impermeable outer layer isarranged only over the absorbent element, and forms an outer layer ofsaid element. In FIG. 10 a cross section along the line X-X in FIG. 8 isshown, in order to illustrate this. The absorbent element is hereenclosed between a liquid-permeable layer 326, for example, ofnon-woven, and of a liquid-impermeable and at the same time breathablelayer 327, for example, of a perforated plastic film. The two layers326,327 extend beyond the absorbent element 305 and a distance around itand are there interconnected. The unit formed by the absorbent element305 and the two layers 326 and 327 is attached to the second piece 302of the absorbent article, wherein the liquid-permeable layer 326 hasbeen connected to the second piece 302, as is shown in FIG. 10.

[0063] The absorption unit shown in FIG. 10, consisting of the absorbentelement 305 and the layers 326 and 327, may be replaced with anabsorbent foam material in one piece, which foam material is providedwith an integral liquid-impermeable and at the same time air-permeablelayer.

[0064] When the expression liquid-impermeable and breathable has beenused in the above text, it also implies that the material in questionalso is vapor-permeable, but that it does not allow passage of liquiddrops.

[0065] The liquid-impermeable outer layer 3 can, within the scope of theinvention, be made of an air-impermeable material.

[0066] In the above illustrative embodiments, as is evident from FIG. 3,the side edge portions 14,16 of the second piece have been arranged onthe outside of the end edge portions 13,15 of the first piece. It is, ofcourse, possible to do the reverse, i.e., with the end edge portions13,15 of the first piece farthest out. These two alternatives are to bepreferred, even though it is within the scope of the invention to obtainsaid connection by means of attaching the inside of each of the end edgeportions of the first piece to the inside of each side edge portion ofthe second piece, or by means of connecting corresponding edge portionsoutside to outside.

[0067] The article according to the invention has turned out to beespecially suitable as incontinence shields for men. Other applications,such as menstrual shields or incontinence shields for women, are alsoconceivable.

[0068] In the above described illustrative embodiments, the highestabsorption capacity per unit area for the narrowest area has beenachieved by means of varying the content of superabsorbent material.Another method of achieving higher absorption capacity in the narrowestarea is to form the absorbent element with a higher basis weight in thisarea. This can, for example, be carried out on an absorbent elementformed from a fluff pulp of cellulose. Thus, the absorption capacity foran absorbent element of a fluff pulp may also be controlled by varyingthe density and/or the thickness in different portions.

[0069] The absorbent element can, of course within the scope of theinvention, be formed from other materials, for example absorbent foammaterials.

[0070] The invention is not limited to the illustrative embodimentsdescribed above, but a number of modifications are possible within thescope of the patent claims below.

1. An absorbent article of pants shape, comprising: an elastic waistportion, an absorbent element, which has a length and a width and isadapted to at least cover the genitals of a wearer when the article isworn, and a liquid-impermeable outer layer which is adapted to enclosethe absorbent element on at least a side thereof which faces away fromthe wearer when the article is worn, the elastic waist portion is madefrom an elastic first piece which is elongate in an extended state andis adapted to partly surround the trunk of the wearer when the articleis worn and to form a rear portion and side portions of the absorbentarticle, a second piece forms a front portion and a crotch portion ofthe absorbent article, said second piece is elongate with two oppositeend edges and two opposite longitudinal edges, the width of the secondpiece is, at least in the crotch portion, smaller than a length of thefirst piece, the second piece is arranged with its longitudinaldirection at right angles in relation to a longitudinal direction of thefirst piece and is connected by a first end portion of the second pieceto one longitudinal edge portion of the first piece centrally thereon,one end portion of the first piece is connected to a first longitudinaledge of the second piece, and another end portion of the first piece isconnected in a corresponding manner to a second longitudinal edge of thesecond piece, the absorbent element is in its entirety arranged on thesecond piece, and elastic members are arranged along the longitudinaledges of the second piece along at least the crotch portion for formingleg elastics that are adapted to lie in sealing contact with legs of thewearer.
 2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein thelength of the second piece is greater than a width of the first piece,and a projecting portion of the second piece formed by a lengthdifference between the length of the second piece and a width of thefirst piece is in its entirety located below a side edge of the firstpiece which is a lower one during use of the article, and the projectingportion forms the crotch portion.
 3. The absorbent article according toclaim 2, wherein said projecting portion has a smaller width than aremainder of the second piece.
 4. The absorbent element according toclaim 2, wherein the absorbent element extends in its longitudinaldirection over the entire crotch portion and a little way up over thefront portion in the direction of that side edge of the first piecewhich is an upper one during use of the article.
 5. The absorbentarticle according to claim 2, wherein the absorbent element is arrangedso as to extend with its lower end portion only a little way over thecrotch portion and over less than half the extent of said projectingportion.
 6. The absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein theabsorbent element tapers in the direction of the crotch portion.
 7. Theabsorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the absorbent elementforms a concave shape with its side edge portions in the crotch area. 8.The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said connected endportions of the second piece and the longitudinal edge portions of saidfirst piece are, before connection, arranged in an overlapping manner,with an inside of an overlapping portion being arranged against anoutside of an overlapped portion.
 9. The absorbent article according toclaim 1, wherein the second piece includes a liquid-permeable innerlayer and said liquid-impermeable outer layer, and the absorbent elementis arranged between said inner and outer layers, the inner and outerlayers extending in a lateral direction and longitudinal directionoutside the absorbent element and being interconnected there.
 10. Theabsorbent article according to claim 9, wherein the liquid-impermeableouter layer only covers the absorbent element.
 11. The absorbent articleaccording to claim 10, wherein a remainder of the entire second piece isbreathable and vapor-permeable.
 12. The absorbent article according toclaim 1, wherein the first piece is rectangular.
 13. The absorbentarticle according to claim 1, wherein the second piece has a concaveportion between the first piece and up to said longitudinal edgeportions of the second piece, wherein the concave portion forms cut-outsfor legs of the wearer.
 14. The absorbent article according to claim 13,wherein the elastic members extend at least along the edges of theconcave portion.
 15. The absorbent article according to claim 1, whereinthe second piece is, at least along a part of its length, narrowingtowards the first piece, wherein the narrowing portion forms cut-outsfor the legs of the wearer.
 16. The absorbent article according to claim15, wherein the elastic members are arranged along the edges of saidnarrowing portion for the forming of leg elastics.
 17. The absorbentarticle according to claim 1, wherein the second piece is essentiallyinelastic.
 18. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein theelastic members extend from an area in the rear portion where theelastic first piece and the second piece overlap each other and furtheralong the crotch portion along the edges of the second piece in adirection towards the front portion, whereby the elastic members areeffectively connected with the elastic first piece.
 19. The absorbentarticle according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent element comprisessuperabsorbent material and is continuously narrowing in a directiontowards the rear portion of the article and that a concentration of thesuperabsorbent material increases in the same direction.
 20. Theabsorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the elastic members arearranged in prestressed condition on the second piece.
 21. The absorbentarticle according to claim 1, wherein the elastic members are arrangedin an unstressed condition on the second piece, and that the elasticmembers are made of a material which shrinks and becomes elastic whenheated.
 22. The absorbent article according to claim 9, wherein theliquid-impermeable outer layer is breathable and vapor-permeable andthat a rest of the article, over its entire area, is breathable andvapor-permeable.
 23. An absorbent article, comprising: an elasticallystretchable first piece having first and second longitudinal edges andfirst and second ends, wherein the first and second ends are shorterthan the first and second longitudinal edges; a second piece havingfirst and second longitudinal edges and first and second ends, whereinthe first and second ends are shorter than the first and secondlongitudinal edges; the second piece includes an absorbent element; thefirst end of the second piece is secured to a middle portion of thesecond longitudinal edge of the first piece so that the first pieceextends substantially perpendicular to the second piece; the first endof the first piece is secured to the first longitudinal edge of thesecond piece and the second end of the first piece is secured to thesecond longitudinal edge of the second piece; and elastic members arearranged along at least a portion of the first longitudinal edge andalong at least a portion of the second longitudinal edge of the secondpiece adjacent the absorbent element to contract said portions of thesecond piece.
 24. The absorbent article of claim 23, wherein the firstpiece is substantially rectangular.
 25. The absorbent article of claim23, wherein the second piece is substantially rectangular.
 26. Theabsorbent article of claim 24, wherein the second piece is substantiallyrectangular.
 27. The absorbent article of claim 23, wherein a portion ofthe absorbent element is between the first and second ends of the firstpiece and a portion of the absorbent element is not between the firstand second ends of the first piece.
 28. The absorbent article of claim23, wherein the absorbent element includes superabsorbent materials. 29.The absorbent article of claim 23, wherein the absorbent element ishourglass shaped.
 30. The absorbent article of claim 23, wherein oneportion of the second piece is narrower than a remainder of the secondpiece.
 31. The absorbent article of claim 30, wherein the one portion isconcave in shape and the one portion includes the first end.
 32. Theabsorbent article of claim 23, wherein the first end of the absorbentelement is closer to the first end of the second piece than the secondend of the absorbent element.
 33. A method of manufacturing an absorbentarticle, comprising: providing an elastically stretchable first piecehaving first and second longitudinal edges and first and second ends,wherein the first and second ends are shorter than the first and secondlongitudinal edges; securing a first end of a second piece of materialto a middle portion of the second longitudinal edge of the first pieceso that the first piece extends substantially perpendicular to thesecond piece, wherein the second piece has first and second longitudinaledges that are substantially perpendicular to the first end and thefirst end is shorter than the first and second longitudinal edges, andwherein the second piece includes an absorbent element; securing thefirst end of the first piece to the first longitudinal edge of thesecond piece and securing the second end of the first piece to thesecond longitudinal edge of the second piece; and providing elasticmembers along at least a portion of the first longitudinal edge andalong at least a portion of the second longitudinal edge of the secondpiece adjacent the absorbent element to contract said portions of thesecond piece.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first piece issubstantially rectangular.
 35. The method of claim 33, wherein thesecond piece is substantially rectangular.
 36. The method of claim 34,wherein the second piece is substantially rectangular.
 37. The method ofclaim 33, wherein a portion of the absorbent element is between thefirst and second edges of the first piece and a portion of the absorbentelement is not between the first and second edges of the first piece.38. The method of claim 33, wherein the absorbent element includessuperabsorbent materials.
 39. The method of claim 33, wherein theabsorbent element is hourglass shaped.
 40. The method of claim 33,wherein one portion of the second piece is narrower than a remainder ofthe second portion.
 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the one portionis concave in shape and the one portion includes the first edge.
 42. Themethod of claim 33, wherein the first end of the absorbent element iscloser to the first edge of the second piece that the second end of theabsorbent element.
 43. A method of manufacturing an absorbent article ofpants shape, the absorbent article comprising an elastic waist portion,an absorbent element, which has a length and a width and which coversgenitals of a wearer when the article is worn, and a liquid-impermeableouter layer which encloses the absorbent element on at least a sidethereof which faces away from the wearer of the article, the methodcomprising: forming said elastic waist portion from an elastic firstpiece which is elongate in an extended state and partly surrounds thetrunk of the wearer and forms a rear portion and side portions of thepants article when the article is worn, forming a front portion of thearticle and a crotch portion from a second piece, said second piece iselongate with two opposite end edges and two opposite longitudinaledges, a width of the second piece is, at least in the crotch portion,smaller than a length of the first piece, the second piece is arrangedwith its longitudinal direction at right angles in relation to thelongitudinal direction of the first piece, connecting a first endportion of the second piece to one longitudinal edge portion of thefirst piece, centrally thereon, connecting one end portion of the firstpiece to a first longitudinal edge portion of the second piece, andconnecting another end portion of the first piece in a correspondingmanner to a second longitudinal edge portion of the second piece, andelastic members are arranged in the crotch portion on each side of theabsorbent element.
 44. The method according to claim 43, wherein theabsorbent element in its entirety is arranged on the second pieceforming part of the article before said piece is connected to said firstpiece.